A Natural Born Citizen
There have been rumors circulating that Senator John McCain is ineligible to run for president because he is not technically ”a natural born citizen”. McCain was born in 1936 in the Panama Canal on a military base. It has been argued by conservatives that because John McCain was born on an American military base to American parents he is legally eligible to run for the office of the president. Still others argue that the United States did not and still does not have sovereign control of the Canal Zone. Unquestionably, he is a United States citizen (all that takes is being born to parents who are American citizens); but as stipulated in the Constitution one must be at least 35 years old and a “natural born citizen” to run for president. Another interesting factor to note is that most of the information I found on this “scandel” was clearly written by Republican newspaper companies, and of course they defended his right to the presidentcy!And here is the real kicker “Sen. Barack Obama’s campaign announced [that] he would co-sponsor legislation introduced by his political ally Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) to ensure that John McCain can become president” taken from the blog on the Washington Post website entitled “The Trial: A Daily Diary of Campaign 2008″.
What do you think? What is a natural born citizen and by that definition is McCain eligible to run for office? What does this mean for the Republican nomination or for the presidential elections of 2008 if McCain is sued and found to be ineligible to run for president? Why do you think that this has not been publicized or covered as throughly as some of the “issues” between Obama and Clinton? And what do you think about Obama’s support for McCain?
First off I really really really really hope this fool cannot run for president regarding the Republican side but then if he cannot who will for the Republicans?
Secondly, rules are rules and we must abide by them. I feel if the shoe was on another foot such as Barack Obama’s he would be under alot of fire and they would be making sure or at least trying to enforce that stipulation in the Constitution.
Thirdly, I’m a little confused. What did you mean by Obama’s campaign announced [that] he would co-sponsor legislation introduced by his political ally Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) to ensure that John McCain can become president”?!? Does that mean that Obama wants to make sure McCain can run so that he has someone to run against kind of thing… or ya I’m confused about that.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoI believe the term “natural born citizen” was created to ensure that the allegiance of a presidential candidate is first and foremost to the United States and not any other country. However, the notion that both McCain’s parents are American and here is ultimately a citizen because of that his allegiance should not be question. Nonetheless, I do believe that the term natural born citizen needs to be either specified or adjusted in the Constituion. It has provided too many gray areas in a time where immigration is thriving. Also, I believe Obama recognizes this and therefore supports McCain. I do believe this has not been publicized because it goes against conservative principles. If it is true that McCain is ineligible to run for presidency then that means that all of the proposed rigid immigration rules and the party’s idea of living directly by the Constitution has turned around and bit them in the butt.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoI think a natural born citizen is someone who was born in the United States and whose parents are both from the United States. I believe that McCain is eligible to run for office because both his parents are from the U.S. and because he was born on a military base. I dont think this issue has been publicized as much as the issues between Obama and Clinton because many people believe he is a “natural born citizen” so there is nothing really to discuss. I think Obama may be supporting McCain because to prove he is the best means to go against the best, so he doesn’t want to win without knowing that he can beat McCain.
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| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoI think that a natural born citizen is one who was born to American parents who were both natural born citizens. I highly doubt these rumors will become so important in the mainstream and hold enough power to effect McCain’s run for presidency. I think it hasn’t been publicized because legally he is a citizen so it’s not an issue. I think Obama is trying to prove that he wants a fair chance at office. If he gets on the ballot McCain will be his only competition. He wants to show that he can win presidency on his own.
What do you think? What is a natural born citizen and by that definition is McCain eligible to run for office? What does this mean for the Republican nomination or for the presidential elections of 2008 if McCain is sued and found to be ineligible to run for president? Why do you think that this has not been publicized or covered as throughly as some of the “issues” between Obama and Clinton? And what do you think about Obama’s support for McCain?
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| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoI do not know the technical definition of a natural born citizen, but I think John McCain is eligible to run for office. His parents are American, he’s American. If McCain is sued and found ineligible to run for President, then Obama can suit up and get ready to run the country!!!
This has not been publicized or covered as thoroughly as some of the issues between Obama and Clinton because he’s REPUBLICAN!! Obama is a strong man who makes all the right decisions and all the right moves, and his support for McCain is just another gesture that qualifies Obama even more to become president.
From what i gather from this post and my limited memory of high school government class, when you are running for president you have to be born within the united states and its territories . If McCain was born outside of US territory but on an American military base i’m guessing that he would techinically be considered a natural born citizen. I don’t think this is going to affect McCain’s nomination for president for the republican party because he wouldn’t have gotten as far as he has if this was truly going to pose a problem. I’m not sure who would sue McCain because of his citizen status, but that would definitely be interesting to watch if possible. I think this issue hasn’t been publicized because many people probably doubt that it wil cost him the nomination he already has and for that reason are not paying a significant amount of attention to it. In reference to Obama’s support for McCain, i would have to read up on this story more to be able to say what i think of his involvement, but perhaps Obama is saying a person’s right to become president shouldn’t be taken from them if they are a viable candidate just because of their place of birth. Interesting post, i had definitely not heard anything about this.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoA natural born citizen is anyone that was born on United States soil (whether that is a terrority or an actual state), though I do not personally think that being born on an American military base in another country is considered “natural born citizenship”. With that being said, I do not believe that McCain should run for president, the lines are too blurry and there is nothing in the Constitution that explains what a natural born citizen is. I think its kind of ironic that Obama is supporting any efforts to ensure that McCain can be president. What is that all about? I also feel that since the Republican oarty basically controls the major networks they are manipulating the airways in order to show what they want to be seen; though I have heard that McCain wants some media attention.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoConsidering that half of my family is military, I have heard alot about this issues of what it takes to be a natural born citizen. Although I am not a 100% sure but from what I understand a military base is considered to be American soil so as long as you are born on a base you are considered to be a natural born citizen. It also make you a citizen if both of your parents are American citizens like I said before I’m not positive thats how it goes but with plenty of my family being born out of the coutnry I believe that is how my family explained it to me. I hate to be on Mccain side in any format but in this case I do believe he is eligible. Therefore, on that note it would be great that I was wrong and that he was found ineligible to run. I think it has not been publicized so much due to the fact that he is a republican they have money and power which allows them to get keep many issues on the hush. I hate the idea that Obama is supoprting McCain but maybe he feels that he wants to have a worthy opponent and that no matter what he can beat anybody.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoLet me add (and please do believe I hate saying this) but I think McCain should be allowed to run because his parents are “natural born citizens” and Americans and going along with being a United States Citizen he is… so (argh) he should be able to vote
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoI would think that a “natural born citizen” is just that, someone born in the U.S. I am not fully aware of the circumstances surrounding the Panama Canal and whether or not it is or was U.S. territory. However, I would agree that if it is (or was), then McCain should be allowed to run for office. Even though, I do believe that the press would be eating Obama alive if instead he were born on a U.S. military base in let’s say…Africa! But that’s a whole other matter…
I don’t think his business is publicized as much as Hillary and Obama because let’s face it…he’s boring. He’s just another white man running for president. On the other hand, never before have a woman and a black man become serious contenders for the presidency than Hillary and Obama. Add to that fact, they are running against each other. Of course, the media would be all over them.
Obama supports McCain because he wants a viable running mate. Point blank.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agodeespencer: I was referring to the fact that Obama is trying to make sure that McCain stays in the race..lol idk y i mean really why would u want your rival to still run? What’s up with that?
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoTo me a natural born citizen is someone who is born on American territory. Therefore if McCain was not born land which is governed by the United States, than no, he is not a natural born citizen…well at least in my eyes. And if it is the general consensus of the public that he is not a natural born citizen then that makes me question what other accommodations our government will be willing to make for the presidency.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoAs far the republicans, if McCain is ineligible, then are *poop* out of luck…lol.. I don’t know what they would do and honestly it really would be as much of a concern to me.
I don’t think that this has been as publicized as news concerning Obama and Clinton because this could really disrupt the Republican Party and I almost feel like their way of thinking about the situation is until it has been proven then there is no need to discuss it.
As for the alleged support for McCain from Obama, I don’t know about that one, I would have to look deeper into that….
I think McCain is a natural born citizen because his parents are from America and he’s served in the U.S. militray. Just because he was born in another country does not change his nationality nor should it change the status of his citizenship. (But then I guess this dives into the issue of people who purposely come to the US to have their children so that their children can claim US citizenship.) I do not feel that McCain will be “sued” for this so I don’t really see it as a big issue. I don’t think that this has been publicized as much as the democratic presidential race because McCain is the typical candidate…so no one really cares as much. I think it’s great that Obama is supporting McCain because it would be kind of childish if he didn’t.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoI think it’s because he’s a TRUE American and has respect for his opponent and if he wins he wants to do so justifiably (I know I didn’t spell that right)
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoIf Americans have a child in Jamaica, isn’t the baby Jamaican?
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoFirst, I think it is admirable the Obama wants to help change legislation regarding what it means to be a “natural born citizen” regardless even if it means that it can make his more formidable opponent eligble for the presidency. I do think that it may have been wiser to wait until after the election to try to change it and not before with McCain just inches away from grabbing the presidency. This is simply a matter of interpretation of the Constitution, which unfortunately, is not so simple. Does being a natural born citizen mean being born on American territory or being born within the actual defined boundaries of the United States of America, being continental United States and Alaska and Hawaii? That is not an easy question to answer, but for me I think being a natural born citizen means being born in the United States of American and not just American owned territory. Now do i think that legislation should be changed, yes, because just like many other stipulations in the Constitution this is quite outdated. With the U.S. stretching itself across the globe into so many other territories, this does require the exportation of American people into other places, so children of military should not be ineligible to run for president once they grow up because they were not physical within the United States. Finally, like all things Republican, this has not recieved much attention because its one, John McCain, and two, he’s republican. Now if this was an issue with a Democrat, it would be plastered all over the news and on every newspaper. This should come as no surprise.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoShould we be talking about the fact that the “natural born citizen” rule is in itself a little disturbing?
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoEvern so I don’t think that he should be taken out of the race. This is something that should have been caught earlier if they wanted McCain out of the race.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoI’m not sure kjohns…that’s the issue I’m wondering about. I wonder why this issue hasn’t gotten much media coverage. (this is the first time I’ve heard about it)..in fact McCain is hardly ever in the news..
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoThat’s what I thought…. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt had Shiloh (ya I’m into the tabloids) in Africa (Namibia) and she’s African… that’s a good point kjohns
Hmm makes you wonder…
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agoIf you wanna really get down to it, very few people in America can truely call themselves natural American because the high rate of 1st and 2nd generation emigration and the great melting pot that America is. As far as McCains nationality debating over a technicality of where he was born is overrided by his parent being american citizens=>he is american and can run for presidency.
| Posted 1 year, 7 months agothe support of McCain by Obama is a tactful move…i believe him and his campaign know that a election between him and McCain is more promising than a electoral race between Clinton and McCain. Perhaps he wants to give the voters an easy decision to make.